As used in this section and sections 38a-566, 38a-567, 38a-569 and 38a-574:
(1) “Pool” means the Connecticut Small Employer Health Reinsurance Pool, established under section 38a-569.
(2) “Board” means the board of directors of the pool.
(3) “Employee” means an individual employed by an employer. “Employee” does not include (A) an individual and such individual's spouse with respect to an incorporated or unincorporated trade or business that is wholly owned by such individual, by such individual's spouse or by such individual and such individual's spouse, or (B) a partner in a partnership and such partner's spouse with respect to such partnership.
(4) (A) “Small employer” means (i) prior to January 1, 2016, an employer that employed an average of at least one but not more than fifty employees on business days during the preceding calendar year and employs at least one employee on the first day of the group health insurance plan year, and (ii) on and after January 1, 2016, an employer that employed an average of at least one but not more than one hundred employees on business days during the preceding calendar year and employs at least one employee on the first day of the group health insurance plan year, except the commissioner may postpone said January 1, 2016, date to be consistent with any such postponement made by the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148, as amended from time to time. “Small employer” does not include a sole proprietorship that employs only the sole proprietor or the spouse of such sole proprietor.
(B) (i) For purposes of subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, the number of employees shall be determined by adding (I) the number of full-time employees for each month who work a normal work week of thirty hours or more, and (II) the number of full-time equivalent employees, calculated for each month by dividing by one hundred twenty the aggregate number of hours worked for such month by employees who work a normal work week of less than thirty hours, and averaging such total for the calendar year.
(ii) If an employer was not in existence throughout the preceding calendar year, the number of employees shall be based on the average number of employees that such employer reasonably expects to employ in the current calendar year.
(C) All persons treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, shall be considered a single employer for purposes of this subdivision.
(5) “Insurer” means any insurance company, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation or health care center, authorized to transact health insurance business in this state.
(6) “Insurance arrangement” means any multiple employer welfare arrangement, as defined in Section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, except for any such arrangement that is fully insured within the meaning of Section 514(b)(6) of said act, as amended from time to time.
(7) “Health insurance plan” means any hospital and medical expense incurred policy, hospital or medical service plan contract and health care center subscriber contract. “Health insurance plan” does not include (A) accident only, credit, dental, vision, Medicare supplement, long-term care or disability insurance, hospital indemnity coverage, coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance, insurance arising out of a workers' compensation or similar law, automobile medical-payments insurance, or insurance under which beneficiaries are payable without regard to fault and which is statutorily required to be contained in any liability insurance policy or equivalent self-insurance, or (B) policies of specified disease or limited benefit health insurance, provided the carrier offering such policies files on or before March first of each year a certification with the commissioner that contains the following: (i) A statement from the carrier certifying that such policies are being offered and marketed as supplemental health insurance and not as a substitute for hospital or medical expense insurance; (ii) a summary description of each such policy including the average annual premium rates, or range of premium rates in cases where premiums vary by age, gender or other factors, charged for such policies in the state; and (iii) in the case of a policy that is described in this subparagraph and that is offered for the first time in this state on or after October 1, 1993, the carrier files with the commissioner the information and statement required in this subparagraph at least thirty days prior to the date such policy is issued or delivered in this state.
(8) “Plan of operation” means the plan of operation of the pool, including articles, bylaws and operating rules, adopted by the board pursuant to section 38a-569.
(9) “Dependent” means the spouse or child of an eligible employee, subject to applicable terms of the health insurance plan covering such employee. “Dependent” includes any dependent who is covered under the small employer's health insurance plan pursuant to workers' compensation, continuation of benefits pursuant to section 38a-512a or other applicable laws.
(10) “Commissioner” means the Insurance Commissioner.
(11) “Member” means each insurer and insurance arrangement participating in the pool.
(12) “Small employer carrier” means any insurer or insurance arrangement that offers or maintains group health insurance plans covering eligible employees of one or more small employers.
(13) “Health care center” has the same meaning as provided in section 38a-175.
(14) “Case characteristics” means demographic or other objective characteristics of a small employer, including age and geographic location. “Case characteristics” does not include claims experience, health status or duration of coverage since issue.
(P.A. 90-134, S. 12, 28; P.A. 91-201, S. 4, 8; P.A. 92-125, S. 1, 5; P.A. 93-137, S. 1, 6; 93-239, S. 9; 93-345, S. 6; P.A. 94-214, S. 2, 4; P.A. 95-79, S. 144, 189; P.A. 96-271, S. 213, 254; P.A. 99-124, S. 1, 4; P.A. 00-114, S. 1, 2; 00-218, S. 1; P.A. 01-30, S. 2, 4; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 32; P.A. 04-163, S. 1; P.A. 05-238, S. 3; P.A. 07-185, S. 18, 19; P.A. 08-110, S. 3; P.A. 10-4, S. 1; 10-5, S. 34; 10-13, S. 4; P.A. 11-19, S. 14; 11-58, S. 46; P.A. 14-122, S. 52; P.A. 15-118, S. 22; 15-247, S. 17; P.A. 17-15, S. 72.)
History: P.A. 91-201 redefined “small employer” to account for Taft-Hartley trust plans, clarified the definition of “late enrollee” for purposes of enrolling in a small employer health plan, and redefined “small employer carrier” to include maintenance of insurance plans, amended the definition of “base premium rate” to address small employer carriers not issuing new coverage and added a definition of “case characteristic”; P.A. 92-125 amended Subdiv. (9) to add provision concerning involuntary termination or cancellation, Subdiv. (24) to change annualized wages from all employers to the adjusted gross income from the most recent federal tax return filed prior to the date of application and added Subdiv. (28) to define “actuarial certification”; P.A. 93-137 redefined “eligible employee” to conditionally include any employee who is not actively at work but is covered under an employer's health insurance plan, redefined “small employer” to require that the employer has been in business for at least 3 consecutive months during the preceding 12 months and redefined “dependent” to include any dependent who is covered under an employer health insurance plan, effective June 11, 1993; P.A. 93-239 corrected internal references in definition of “pool”; P.A. 93-345 added Subdiv. (7)(B) re policies of specified disease or limited health benefit and made technical changes; P.A. 94-214 amended the definition of “small employer” by increasing the number of eligible employees to qualify as a small employer from 25 to 50, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-79 redefined “small employer” to include a limited liability company, effective May 31, 1995; P.A. 96-271 amended definition of “small employer” to replace reference to Sec. 33-374a with Sec. 33-840, effective January 1, 1997; P.A. 99-124 amended Subdiv. (4) to provide that “small employer” does not include a municipality procuring health insurance pursuant to Sec. 5-259, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 00-114 amended definition of “small employer” in Subdiv. (4) to insert Subpara. (A) designator re municipalities and add new language as Subpara. (B) to exempt a private school procuring health insurance through an insurance arrangement or association of private schools, effective May 26, 2000; P.A. 00-218 redefined “small employer” in Subdiv. (4) to include persons self-employed for at least 3 consecutive months, and to state that “small employer includes a self-employed individual”; P.A. 01-30 added Subdiv. (4)(C) excluding certain nonprofit organizations from the definition of “small employer”, effective July 1, 2001; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 added Subdiv. (4)(D) excluding an association for personal care assistants procuring health insurance pursuant to Sec. 5-259 from definition of “small employer”, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 04-163 redefined “case characteristics” in Subdiv. (27) to include administrative cost savings, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 05-238 amended Subdiv. (4) to redefine “small employer” by inserting Subpara. designators (A) and (B), redesignating existing Subparas. (A) to (D) as Subpara. (B)(i) to (iv) and adding Subpara. (B)(v) re community action agencies, effective July 8, 2005; P.A. 07-185 amended Subdiv. (19) to redefine “low-income eligible employee” as one whose annualized wages are less than 300% of the federal poverty level and amended Subdiv. (24) to redefine “low-income individual” as one whose adjusted gross income for the individual and spouse is less than 300% of the applicable federal poverty level, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 08-110 made a technical change in Subdiv. (4)(A), effective May 27, 2008; P.A. 10-4 amended Subdiv. (3) to redefine “eligible employee” and amended Subdiv. (4) to redefine “small employer”, effective January 1, 2011; P.A. 10-5 made technical changes in Subdivs. (3) and (4)(A), effective May 5, 2010; P.A. 10-13 amended Subdiv. (3) to redefine “eligible employee”, amended Subdiv. (4) to redefine “small employer”, amended Subdiv. (13) to redefine “dependent” and made technical changes, effective May 5, 2010; P.A. 11-19 made technical changes; P.A. 11-58 redefined “preexisting conditions provision” in Subdiv. (17), effective July 2, 2011; P.A. 14-122 made a technical change in Subdiv. (6); P.A. 15-118 made technical changes in Subdiv. (5); P.A. 15-247 amended introductory language by replacing “12-201, 12-211, 12-212a and 38a-565 to 38a-572, inclusive” with “38a-566, 38a-567, 38a-569 and 38a-574”, deleted former Subdivs. (3), (4), (9) to (12), (17) to (25) and (28) re definitions of “eligible employee”, “small employer”, “late enrollee”, “department”, “special health care plan”, “small employer health care plan”, “preexisting conditions provision”, “base premium rate”, “low-income eligible employee”, “Medicare”, “Health Reinsurance Association”, “reimbursement rate”, “individual special health care plan”, “low-income individual”, “Medicare reimbursement rate” and “actuarial certification”, added new Subdivs. (3) and (4) re definition of “employee” and “small employer”, redesignated existing Subdiv. (13) as Subdiv. (9) and amended same by replacing “38a-554” with “38a-512a”, redesignated existing Subdivs. (14) to (16) and (26) as Subdivs. (10) to (13), respectively, redesignated existing Subdiv. (27) as Subdiv. (14) and amended same by redefining “case characteristics”, and made technical changes, effective July 10, 2015; P.A. 17-15 made a technical change in Subdiv. (7)(B).
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 700c - Health Insurance
Section 38a-469. - Definitions.
Section 38a-472a. - Medical provider indemnification agreements prohibited.
Section 38a-472g. - Restrictions applicable to prior authorization or precertification.
Section 38a-472j. - Restrictions applicable to cost-sharing for covered benefits. Regulations.
Section 38a-472k. - Disability income policies. Discretionary clauses prohibited. Regulations.
Section 38a-476. - Preexisting condition coverage.
Section 38a-476b. - Standards re psychotropic drug availability in health plans.
Section 38a-477. - Standardized claim forms. Information necessary for filing a claim. Regulations.
Section 38a-477a. - Notification by Insurance Commissioner of required benefits and policy forms.
Section 38a-477bb. - Cost-sharing re facility fees.
Section 38a-477f. - Contract provision prohibiting certain disclosures prohibited.
Section 38a-477ff. - Third-party discounts and payments for covered benefits. Credit required.
Section 38a-477g. - Contracts between health carriers and participating providers.
Section 38a-477h. - Participating provider directories.
Section 38a-477ll. - Coverage for health enhancement programs.
Section 38a-478. - Definitions.
Section 38a-478a. - Commissioner's report to the Governor and the General Assembly.
Section 38a-478f. - Provider profile development requirements.
Section 38a-478g. - Managed care contract requirements. Plan description requirements.
Section 38a-478i. - Limitation on enrollee rights prohibited.
Section 38a-478j. - Coinsurance and deductible payments based on negotiated discounts.
Section 38a-478k. - Gag clauses prohibited.
Section 38a-478l. - Consumer report card required. Content. Data analysis by commissioner.
Section 38a-478o. - Confidentiality and antidiscrimination procedures required.
Section 38a-478p. - Expedited utilization review. Standardized process required.
Section 38a-478q. - Use of laboratories covered by plan required.
Section 38a-478t. - Commissioner of Public Health to receive data.
Section 38a-478u. - Regulations.
Section 38a-479. - Definitions. Access to fee schedules. Fee information to be confidential.
Section 38a-479gg. - Regulations.
Section 38a-479aaa. - Pharmacy benefits managers. Definitions.
Section 38a-479ddd. - Hearing on denial of certificate. Subsequent application.
Section 38a-479eee. - Claims payment to be made by electronic funds transfer upon written request.
Section 38a-479fff. - Expiration of certificates of registration. Renewal. Fees.
Section 38a-479ggg. - Regulations.
Section 38a-479hhh. - Investigations and hearings. Powers of commissioner. Appeals.
Section 38a-479iii. - Pharmacy audits.
Section 38a-479ooo. - Definitions.
Section 38a-479qqq. - Annual report by health carriers. Regulations.
Section 38a-479rrr. - Annual certification by health carriers.
Section 38a-479qq. - Medical discount plans: Definitions, prohibited sales practices, penalties.
Section 38a-482. (Formerly Sec. 38-166). - Form of policy.
Section 38a-482c. - Annual and lifetime limits.
Section 38a-483. (Formerly Sec. 38-167). - Standard provisions of individual health policy.
Section 38a-483a. - Exclusionary riders for individual health insurance policies. Regulations.
Section 38a-483b. - Time limits for coverage determinations. Notice requirements.
Section 38a-483c. - Coverage and notice re experimental treatments. Appeals.
Section 38a-486. (Formerly Sec. 38-170). - Certain acts not to operate as waiver of rights.
Section 38a-487. (Formerly Sec. 38-171). - Coverage after termination date of policy.
Section 38a-488. (Formerly Sec. 38-172). - Discrimination.
Section 38a-488b. - Coverage for autism spectrum disorder therapies.
Section 38a-488d. - Coverage for substance abuse services provided pursuant to court order.
Section 38a-488e. - Coverage for mental health wellness examinations.
Section 38a-488f. - Coverage for services provided under the Collaborative Care Model.
Section 38a-488g. - Acute inpatient psychiatric coverage. Prior authorization not required.
Section 38a-490a. - Coverage for birth-to-three program.
Section 38a-490b. - Coverage for hearing aids.
Section 38a-490c. - Coverage for craniofacial disorders.
Section 38a-490d. - Mandatory coverage for blood lead screening and risk assessment.
Section 38a-491b. - Assignment of benefits to a dentist or oral surgeon.
Section 38a-492a. - Mandatory coverage for hypodermic needles and syringes.
Section 38a-492b. - Coverage for certain off-label drug prescriptions.
Section 38a-492d. - Mandatory coverage for diabetes screening, testing and treatment.
Section 38a-492e. - Mandatory coverage for diabetes outpatient self-management training.
Section 38a-492f. - Mandatory coverage for certain prescription drugs removed from formulary.
Section 38a-492g. - Mandatory coverage for prostate cancer screening and treatment.
Section 38a-492h. - Mandatory coverage for certain Lyme disease treatments.
Section 38a-492i. - Mandatory coverage for pain management.
Section 38a-492j. - Mandatory coverage for ostomy-related supplies.
Section 38a-492k. - Mandatory coverage for colorectal cancer screening.
Section 38a-492m. - Mandatory coverage for certain renewals of prescription eye drops.
Section 38a-492n. - Mandatory coverage for certain wound-care supplies.
Section 38a-492o. - Mandatory coverage for bone marrow testing.
Section 38a-492p. - Mandatory coverage for medically monitored inpatient detoxification.
Section 38a-492q. - Mandatory coverage for essential health benefits.
Section 38a-492t. - Mandatory coverage for prosthetic devices.
Section 38a-492u. - Coverage for psychotropic drugs. Standards re availability.
Section 38a-494. (Formerly Sec. 38-174l). - Home health care by recognized nonmedical systems.
Section 38a-495b. - Medicare supplement policies and certificates. Definitions.
Section 38a-495d. - Refund of prepaid premium for Medicare supplement policies.
Section 38a-496. (Formerly Sec. 38-174q). - Coverage for occupational therapy.
Section 38a-498a. - Prior authorization prohibited for certain 9-1-1 emergency calls.
Section 38a-498b. - Mandatory coverage for mobile field hospital.
Section 38a-503a. - Mandatory coverage for breast cancer survivors.
Section 38a-503b. - Carriers to permit direct access to obstetrician-gynecologist.
Section 38a-503e. - Mandatory coverage for contraceptives and sterilization.
Section 38a-503g. - Mandatory coverage for ovarian cancer screening and monitoring.
Section 38a-504a. - Coverage for routine patient care costs associated with certain clinical trials.
Section 38a-504b. - Clinical trial criteria.
Section 38a-504d. - Clinical trials: Routine patient care costs.
Section 38a-504e. - Clinical trials: Billing. Payments.
Section 38a-504g. - Clinical trials: Submission and certification of policy forms.
Section 38a-506. (Formerly Sec. 38-173). - Penalty.
Section 38a-507. - Coverage for services performed by chiropractors.
Section 38a-508. - Coverage for adopted children.
Section 38a-509. - Mandatory coverage for infertility diagnosis and treatment. Limitations.
Section 38a-510. - Prescription drug coverage. Mail order pharmacies. Step therapy use.
Section 38a-510a. - Prescription drug coverage. Synchronized refills.
Section 38a-511. - Copayments re in-network imaging services.
Section 38a-512. - Applicability of statutes to certain major medical expense policies.
Section 38a-512a. - Continuation of coverage.
Section 38a-512c. - Annual and lifetime limits.
Section 38a-513a. - Time limits for coverage determinations. Notice requirements.
Section 38a-513b. - Coverage and notice re experimental treatments. Appeals.
Section 38a-513f. - Claims information to be provided to certain employers. Restrictions. Subpoenas.
Section 38a-513g. - Employer submission of plan cost information to Comptroller.
Section 38a-514a. - Biologically-based mental illness. Coverage required.
Section 38a-514b. - Coverage for autism spectrum disorder.
Section 38a-514d. - Coverage for substance abuse services provided pursuant to court order.
Section 38a-514e. - Coverage for mental health wellness exams.
Section 38a-514f. - Coverage for services provided under the Collaborative Care Model.
Section 38a-514g. - Acute patient psychiatric coverage. Prior authorization not required.
Section 38a-515. - Continuation of coverage of mentally or physically handicapped children.
Section 38a-516. - Coverage for newly born children. Notification to insurer.
Section 38a-516a. - Coverage for birth-to-three program.
Section 38a-516b. - Coverage for hearing aids.
Section 38a-516c. - Coverage for craniofacial disorders.
Section 38a-516d. - Coverage for neuropsychological testing for children diagnosed with cancer.
Section 38a-517. - Coverage for services performed by dentist in certain instances.
Section 38a-517b. - Assignment of benefits to a dentist or oral surgeon.
Section 38a-518a. - Mandatory coverage for hypodermic needles and syringes.
Section 38a-518b. - Coverage for certain off-label drug prescriptions.
Section 38a-518d. - Mandatory coverage for diabetes screening, testing and treatment.
Section 38a-518e. - Mandatory coverage for diabetes outpatient self-management training.
Section 38a-518f. - Mandatory coverage for certain prescription drugs removed from formulary.
Section 38a-518g. - Mandatory coverage for prostate cancer screening and treatment.
Section 38a-518h. - Mandatory coverage for certain Lyme disease treatments.
Section 38a-518i. - Mandatory coverage for pain management.
Section 38a-518j. - Mandatory coverage for ostomy-related supplies.
Section 38a-518k. - Mandatory coverage for colorectal cancer screening.
Section 38a-518l. - Mandatory coverage for certain renewals of prescription eye drops.
Section 38a-518m. - Mandatory coverage for certain wound-care supplies.
Section 38a-518o. - Mandatory coverage for bone marrow testing.
Section 38a-518p. - Mandating coverage for medically monitored inpatient detoxification.
Section 38a-518q. - Mandatory coverage for essential health benefits.
Section 38a-518t. - Mandatory coverage for prosthetic devices.
Section 38a-518u. - Coverage for psychotropic drugs. Standards re availability.
Section 38a-521. - Home health care by recognized nonmedical systems.
Section 38a-522. - Medicare supplement policies. Coverage of home health aide service.
Section 38a-524. - Coverage for occupational therapy.
Section 38a-525a. - Prior authorization prohibited for certain 9-1-1 emergency calls.
Section 38a-525b. - Mandatory coverage for mobile field hospital.
Section 38a-526. - Coverage for services of physician assistants and certain nurses.
Section 38a-530a. - Mandatory coverage for breast cancer survivors.
Section 38a-530b. - Carriers to permit direct access to obstetrician-gynecologist.
Section 38a-530e. - Mandatory coverage for contraceptives and sterilization.
Section 38a-530g. - Mandatory coverage for ovarian cancer screening and monitoring.
Section 38a-534. - Coverage for services performed by chiropractors.
Section 38a-536. - Mandatory coverage for infertility diagnosis and treatment. Limitations.
Section 38a-542a. - Coverage for routine patient care costs associated with certain clinical trials.
Section 38a-542b. - Clinical trial criteria.
Section 38a-542d. - Clinical trials: Routine patient care costs.
Section 38a-542e. - Clinical trials: Billing. Payments.
Section 38a-542g. - Clinical trials: Submission and certification of policy forms.
Section 38a-543. (Formerly Sec. 38-262j). - Reduction of payments on basis of Medicare eligibility.
Section 38a-544. - Prescription drug coverage. Mail order pharmacies. Step therapy use.
Section 38a-544a. - Prescription drug coverage. Synchronized refills.
Section 38a-549. - Coverage for adopted children.
Section 38a-550. - Copayments re in-network imaging services.
Section 38a-551. (Formerly Sec. 38-371). - Definitions.
Section 38a-552. (Formerly Sec. 38-372). - Provision of service to certain low-income individuals.
Section 38a-556a. - Connecticut Clearinghouse.
Section 38a-558. (Formerly Sec. 38-380). - Office of Health Care Access.
Section 38a-560. - Small employer grouping for health insurance coverage.
Section 38a-564. - Definitions.
Section 38a-565. - Special health care plans.
Section 38a-567. - Provisions of small employer plans and arrangements.
Section 38a-569. - Connecticut Small Employer Health Reinsurance Pool.
Section 38a-573. - Validity of separate provisions.
Section 38a-574. - Standard family health statement.
Section 38a-577. (Formerly Sec. 38-174ii). - Consumer dental health plans. Definitions.
Section 38a-578. (Formerly Sec. 38-174jj). - Certificate of authority. Application requirements.
Section 38a-580. (Formerly Sec. 38-174ll). - General surplus required.
Section 38a-584. (Formerly Sec. 38-174pp). - Complaint system.
Section 38a-588. (Formerly Sec. 38-174tt). - Penalty. Insolvency.
Section 38a-589. (Formerly Sec. 38-174uu). - Confidentiality.
Section 38a-590. (Formerly Sec. 38-174vv). - Commissioner's power to adopt regulations.
Section 38a-591. - Compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Regulations.
Section 38a-591a. - Definitions.
Section 38a-591b. - Health carrier responsibilities re utilization review.
Section 38a-591c. - Utilization review criteria and procedures.
Section 38a-591g. - External reviews and expedited external reviews.
Section 38a-591h. - Record-keeping requirements. Report to commissioner upon request.
Section 38a-591i. - Regulations.
Section 38a-591k. - Violations. Notice and hearing. Penalties. Appeal.